PERSONAL REFLECTION: The Cross
More and more I’m noticing my friends are losing their religion (cue classic R.E.M song). No, they aren’t becoming “bad” people. In fact, I have plenty of friends who subscribe to no religion who are more truthful, caring and compassionate than some of my friends who claim to be deeply religious. But many of my friends seem to be fed up with organized religion. I can understand why people take that route –look at how many wars have been fought, and innocent lives lost, all in the name of religion. Look at the corruption within the churches themselves, including the Vatican’s cover-up of countless child molestation allegations. It’s disgusting. And my friends aren’t stupid. I don’t blame any of them for being so sick of the hypocrisy and flat out lies that they’d rather distance themselves from all religious groups entirely.
But still, something within that doesn’t sit well with me.
Something within the loss of one’s religion makes me feel as if the ‘dark side’ wins by driving people away from such an intimate connection. Sure, scriptures—any scriptures—are just that. They are words on paper. They’re stories. Many are useful, beautiful, divine stories, worthy of having been passed down for thousands of years. Others are not. I was raised in a Christian Bethel A.M.E church…though, shamefully, until about an hour ago I couldn’t explain what exactly that entails. The more I’ve educated myself about the true history of Christianity throughout the ages, the more I’ve struggled with continuing to label myself as such. As an African American, it’s tricky trying to come to terms with a religion that was forced upon my ancestors through slavery. But now, after lots of meditation, prayer, and life experience, I prefer to take my new knowledge and begin to RECLAIM rather than refuse my Christianity. That’s not to say that I only take the words of Christianity to be true. I take to heart whatever resonates with me, be it from the Bible, or an Indian mystic, or a Sufi poet, or whomever. Because of that, I’m now able to begin connecting the dots between the ‘different’ faiths that really aren’t once you get to the roots of them.
As I’ve been thinking a lot about symbols lately, I’ve re-considered the meaning of the Christian cross. I wear a simple cross around my neck; given to me as a young child by my paternal grandfather (may he rest in power):
Not long ago, I was talking to a close friend of mine, Raja Ram, when he noticed my cross for the first time. He’s very much in touch with his spiritual nature, but, like most of my other friends, isn’t ‘religious’. So when he saw it, he asked with a smirk “What’s that thing for? Trying to keep away the vampires?”
His gentle teasing didn’t surprise me. The cross is taught to be a symbol of Christ dying for our sins…a story which is obviously refuted by many to varying degrees. I then had to explain to Raja Ram that I don’t get too wrapped up in that story–none of us were there to actually witness it as truth. Instead, I’ve been able to find deeper meaning within the symbol that can work for me, right here, right now.
Let me go out on a limb and explain what I mean by this:
Recently, I read a quote from Reverend Run (of legendary Run DMC fame for my non- Hip Hop readers). He said “When u have a God-given vision…there will be God given PRO-vision.” To that I would make an important addition: but it’s your choice to receive those provisions or let them pass you by.
I think of the symbol of the cross as a literal crossroads –an intersection of four directions. Each direction represents a possible choice/path.
1. This represents the path you’ve already traveled that led you to your decision point/ crossing. We are faced with choices at every moment; some small and some large. Rest assured, if you master the small, seemingly insignificant crossings, the large ones become much easier.
2. This path represents following the linear status quo. An earthly purgatory if you will. When you keep your spiritual vibration at the same speed it’s always been, your outcome may not be any less favorable than before, but on this path you simply can’t make drastic positive changes to your life. Why not? Because it’s literally a continuation of the path that you just came from. Your history will repeat itself until you choose one of the other two paths.
3. GO UP! RAISE YOUR VIBRATION! When you make decisions based on a Higher level of thinking –whether it’s from alignment with your respective religious faith, or your knowledge of self– you allow for those Divine provisions to manifest, and for miracles to happen. With that, comes drastic positive change. Take yourself out of your comfort zone. The path you’ve followed to get to this point means nothing so long as you ‘go up’ when the time comes to choose. This is the path of Unconditional Love.
4. This path represents a lowering of vibration. From lower vibrations stem fear, hate, and unwise decisions that counteract positivity. Trying to lose weight? Well, crying hysterically about how fat, ugly, and alone you are while scarfing down a dozen jelly-filled doughnuts would be found somewhere along this path.
With this personal interpretation, I’m not sucked into the vortex of back-and-forth bickering (Babble-On). For me, The Cross is a representation of free will, and our ability to bring massive positive change into our lives whenever we so choose by aligning ourselves with the highest possible path. Free will is freedom. And if there’s one thing on Earth worth fighting for, it’s our freedom.
Sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? First I disagree with wars being fought in the name of religion, and then say that freedom—the symbolism of the cross– is worth fighting for. But it’s not a contradiction at all. For my Bible readers, it’s summed up in Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” I’m fighting a fully spiritual war which starts with an internal battle. Only I can decide how it begins and, more importantly, how it ends…so excuse me while I go sharpen my weapon of CHOICE.
Aliya, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a preacher/priest sum up their understanding of a path in Christianity quite so well, they’re all just so “establishment”, you know, the party line before all else, and the individual’s choice is inevitably completely lost. I too searched for Christianity’s roots, true roots, and found myself living with an evolving, vibrant, contemporary life experience far remote from any Church I’ve ever been in. Needless to say I still have a search on my hands to actually live this experience! To me Christianity is in the hearts of those willing to make their own choices in accordance with the lives we all live NOW, and willing to get their hands mucky with the consequences of other people’s choices when they need the help of a real living community. Your blog post brings me one step nearer to finding that community with real people …
♥
Pretty insightful post, echoing many of my sentiments about religion/faith/spirituality.
I feel as though you must, first and foremost, have a relationship with your god(s) or whatever other form you find your faith to take – although I don’t think that the cultural facets of religion can be entirely ignored.
That being said, I think people need to do what works for them, rather than blindly following something because that’s how they were raised. That’s not faith, anyway. Faith can’t exist without doubt, and doubt isn’t something you’ll hear much of in organized religion. It’s all a mess, really. haha.
Aliya!!!!!!!!!!! I love this because it relates to me. I believe in God and most of the things in the Bible but I’m not a fan of organized religion so I avoid church at all cost. I just never feel comfortable at church because I question everything in general and I don’t like the different branches of Christianity. If you go to church, they will try to brainwash you into believing that the church and titheing 10% is the key to salvation. I dont believe that because I’m pretty sure the Bible makes no direct references to Church. I do my 10% just not at a specific church.
omar, I AM actually a fan of organized religion –but only when they preach a more accepting gospel. Not all churches “brainwash” people. It’s about finding one that works for you, and encourages you to ask questions of what youre being taught….
to everyone else, thank you so much for the feedback!
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i like the direction of your post as you’ve obviously branched out beyond “traditional christianity” and that in itself is a hard thing to do as far as deviating from one’s childhood taught religion. you’ve also clearly applied critical thinking methods to your faith as well, which i don’t think enough of us do.
personally, i believe that we still have a way to go when the losing of one’s religion is still perceived as the “dark side” is winning. i’m still battling what this new life is like outside of my christian upbringing and there is a sense of loss. i must say that the further i move from it, the more that the christianity and other religions look more and more like that “dark side”.
i’ve lost that intimate relationship w/ the god i used to worship, but i’ve gained a much more intimate relationship w/ my life and a new found love for the “here and now”. w/out the promise of an all blissful afterlife, it makes this world look all the more precious, awe inspiring and full of wonder.
personally, i believe you identify w/ christianity more as a “cultural christian” than anything else. i understand that it’s a comfortable title that still let’s you believe that “dark side” hasn’t gotten its claws into you. it’s obvious that w/ your current beliefs as a result of your spiritual growth, that many “christians” today would not consider you a part of their fold since we both know that christianity, as it defines itself, is not the most tolerant of other forms of divine revelation/wisdom.
Former pastor and current author John Loftus states of Liberal Christians:
“I mean really, what does professing to be a Christian mean at that point when it’s recognized that Jesus was a failed doomsday prophet like a plethora of them have been who have come and gone?
“I’ll tell you what I think. I think such a profession is merely to stay within a group, a group of people who do the same things, much like the Moose Lodge, the Elks, or Eagles at that point. Is this meaningful to people who profess such things? Yes. But there is no basis for doing so. Christianity becomes a mere label at that point which some people have applied to Americans as a whole: “I’m an America so I’m a Christian.” Is that meaningful? Again, yes, and it may be the true definition of a Christian since Christianity is a culture. All I’m doing is making a case and stating it in as forceful of a way as I can. Will liberals agree? No. But I want to force them to say that their version of Christianity is very far from anything that any Christian of the past would accept. The truth is that liberals did not arrive at their position by a process of abstract reasoning. No. They were forced into it against their preferences by the progress of the sciences. I think they should just acknowledge that and admit they have cut themselves off from any historic understanding of what defines a Christian and then say, “but we like being with these people in this group because we like people.”"
i applaud your growth, and your personal symbolic translation of the cross. i also believe that there is still great wisdom to be learned from the bible and other similar historic texts. it would also seem that you too, only still call yourself a christian because it’s more comfortable than getting rid a title that has been a part of your self definition for so long.
thank you so much for your thoughtful response
as far as the “dark side”…perhaps that was an incomplete thought. What I mean by that is….religion at it’s CORE, stripped from self-serving agendas, is a beautiful thing. The reason it looks so “dark” to others is because, in my opinion, many teachings have been twisted and misconstrued. Still, I’m not sure I want to imagine a world in which those beautiful stories from various scriptures are no longer told–because, again, at the ROOT of most scripture, there is power and purity. As I mentioned in another post here on My Aliya, one of my favorite quotes is
“Let the different faiths exist, let them flourish, let the glory of God be sung in all the languages, in a variety of tunes that should be the ideal. Respect the differences between the faiths and recognize them as valid as far as they do not extinguish the flame of Unity.”–(Sri Sathya Sai Baba)
Any positive way of praising one’s higher power is a great thing to me. Do I think religion needs an overhaul in it’s teachings? Sure do. But gone completely? No way.
And as far as not being comfortable with getting rid of my christian title? That’s not true at all. It’s just the opposite. I’m reclaiming my christianity in hopes of showing people that (if they so choose) there are ways of reconciling their more all-encompassing spirituality with Christian teachings. I would be just as fine with not labeling myself anything at all but still reading the Bible along with other religious texts. I was raised a Christian –but as I mentioned in this post, I’m also a Black woman that knows that her ancestors were NOT of Christian faith until their slave masters forced it upon them. So that’s not a deep rooted connection for me. But that’s another blog for another day maybe
thx for the clarification. i wouldn’t go so far as to claim that the CORE of religion is purity, but i understand what you’re saying.
i am more than curious as to how one can reconcile christianity w/ a more all-encompassing spirituality, and i look forward to that blog
[...] to the May 20, 2010 edition of living an intuited life. Aliya presents PERSONAL REFLECTION: The Cross posted at MyAliya. Robert Lew Terrell presents the reflected moon: glittering void posted at lunar [...]
Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don’t have time for all that..
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sure, but maybe making time to think about these sort of questions isn’t a bad idea…is our purpose here on earth really nothing more than collecting massive debt then spending the rest of our lives working to pay off our mortgage, car note,credit cards, and school loans?